Chapter FIVE

   The AC in the car was so chilling and refreshing that I had to fight my desire to sleep off.

We were on our way to the big event that was being held in Eko hotel and suites, one of the best hotels in Lagos state, pretty much the whole country itself.

    I had been there just once, I was part of the ushering crew for a birthday party, but I'm so excited now that I was going not as a low, limited worker, but as one of the management of my restaurant.

I loved my job, because it was like a miracle for me. Last year I finished my ND part time course in the college of Yabatech. I did part time because I needed to support myself to survive.

I wish I could finish my HND but I had so many responsibilities, like working all week, and jumping on any available jobs during the weekends. So, I had to put the furthering of my education on a hold. 

  After my parents had died 9 years ago, Clara's parents had took me in, because of the relationship my mother and Clara's mother had. 

   My mother cleaned and washed their house on weekends, while she went to market, selling minor food stuffs during the week. 

Clara's mom had taken a liking to my mother and so they had become close friends, Bringing me and Clara too as close friends. 

I owed them a lot, and I hoped that one day, I would be able to repay them back for everything they had done. 

Taking me in, even though I had continued my mother's work for them, still I appreciated their kindness towards me and I was determined to make it up to them one day. To become my own boss. To become an independent woman. 

"Sola, please look at this pictures for me, which do you think is better to upload on my Instagram page?" Mr Ben said, bringing me out of my reverie. 

"Oh okay, lemme see sir" I took his phone and switched through the two pictures he wanted me to pick from. The first one looked better and clearer. He was standing with his wife and two kids in both pictures. They looked so happy. 

"The first one is better sir" I replied, returning the device to him. 

"Really ehn? The problem is.. My face looks kind of ugly here. But I guess it's better like that" 

I laughed lightly at his playful tone. He smiled in response at me too, I liked Mr Ben, he was a very friendly and nice man. And respectful too. 

   Soon, we arrived at the venue, as we went into the hall, I tried not to act shocked at the beautiful surroundings, so many places and it was all owned by someone. Or a group of rich people. Maybe. 

   Victoria Island was a beautiful place to live, the roads, scenery, electricity, individuals, it was all so enchanting to me. We proceeded inside, after we had offloaded all the boxes of food and stuff and stuff had settled down from the luxurious bus they came in. I'd never been so happy as I was now that Clara had pushed her work on me. This was going to be an interesting day. 

.................................. 

*Alex*

"Mr Williams! Miss Williams! Please just give us few seconds of your time! How has the business industry been?!" 

I and fayo were used to reporters swarming over us, So I led the way out of the large lobby, walking into the building without a backwards turn. 

   My father had called me yesterday, to instruct me to attend the opening party of an airline company. I had refused at first because I hated pointless outings but my dad was a stubborn man and in the end he had convinced me to attend. So here I was, avoiding reporters and news casters. 

   After few minutes we were settled inside, on our seats. I was steadily going through my phone with my ear pods in my ear, though I wasn't listening to any music. It was just something I was used to. Few hours later I was bored to hell. 

"Alex, what about the pool installation you planned to do for me, in me and kalu's house?" my sister fayokunmi piped in beside me. 

I glanced at her, glaring down at her. 

"Tell your boyfriend to come see me at my office if he so wishes to install any pool" 

Fayokunmi glared back at me, her brown orbs glowing at me in anger. 

"Your matter don tire me guy, you promised me something, now you don't want to own up to it because you do not like my fiance. Grow up Alex. You're turning 29 in a few months. Stop acting like a child." 

I smirked at her. Fayo knew how much I disapproved of her boyfriend who worked for her. All I was trying to do was protect her. But that stubbornness. 

"Fayo, I need you to open your eyes. That... Guy isn't for you. " I replied her with concern in my voice and worry for her as usual on my face. 

"Heysss! Just shut up abeg. I will get my pool installed by myself thank you. Brother know it all" she retorted, fixing her ear pods in her ear. Discussion was over. I sighed. I needed to use the men's room. 

"I'll be right back, Fayo." 

.................................... 

*sola*

The party was still going on after two hours. The Mc was introducing important guests to the special table, While we were busy serving the regular guests their foods and drinks. 

Things were going pretty smoothly, and I was very glad to see it. I was marking some items on my list when Adesua, one of the head cooks at the restaurant came running to meet me with two small trays filled with red, dried, grinded pepper in her hands. 

"Miss Sola, some people in the left hand side of the room have given complaints that their croaker fish barbecue is not pepperish enough. And I thought I should come and inform you first before going for permission." she said in her tiny voice. 

"Peppery you mean." I retorted amusingly at her wrong choice of the word. "And.. Yes why not, just make sure everything goes..." 

I was cut off when a little boy who was being chased by his angry mother ran into Adesua. Causing her to mistakenly dump the tray of red hot pepper on me.!

I acted quickly, using my forearm to cover some part of my face. but unfortunately, some of the pepper reached into my eyes. 

I squeezed my eyes shut tightly, as it started to burn. 

"Jesus! Miss Sola! Ah! Pepper! I'm so sorry. Is it peppering you?" I heard Adesua say, her voice raised to the point of almost screaming. 

But I couldn't focus on her, my whole face was burning. My face was on fire!! My eyes felt like fire was burning inside them and also as if thousands of tiny needles were poking them. It hurt so bad!! 

"Adesua! What direction is the rest room?!" I asked. My voice raised to a higher pitch. I didn't realize tears were already trickling down my eyes even though they were shut tightly closed. I was going to go mad if I didn't get water right now. 

"Over there, the right hand side of the hall. Let me take you." 

I raised my hand at her, as I dropped the pen and book that was on my hand to the floor. 

"No! Don't bother. I'm fine. You just get the guests another fresh tray of pepper. Please. Go now. I can locate the rest room myself." 

I didn't wait for her to reply. I raced my self towards the rest room, hoping there would be no one there to witness my embarrassment. 

I opened my eyes occasionally to check where I was heading to. Even though my eyes burned like hell fire. 

"Jesus! This thing is like fire!" I screamed to no one in particular. My pulse was racing as fast as someone that was running a hundred miles. 

I didn't care. I just wanted to get to water. I needed to get to water. 

"God! I want to die o!!!" I screamed again. I didn't care if people were hearing. 

Just When I felt like my eyes were going to explode, I reached the door of the rest room, I didn't bother to check the sign that read men's room, I just busted into the place, Screaming loudly. 

I peeped my eyes open and saw that no one was in front of the hand wash area. I almost wept for joy as I quickly pounced on the basin, Turning on the largest tap in the middle. 

I continued to splash the water on my face, I splashed and splashed all the while panting and gasping like a woman in labor. 

After a few minutes, I peeped my eyes open again to check, But it burned worse than before. I quickly shut my eyes again. Screaming and splashing more water. "It's worse! It's worse!" 

My hand reached out to pick the hand wash soap. But there was no soap. I spread my hands all over the basin, searching for any handwash to wash my face with. But I didn't see any. I felt like crying hard. 

"Where's the soap!" I said to my self, peeping down at the basins. Empty. 

"Ah! God! No. Where's the soap oluwa? Where's the soap! WHERE'S THE SOAP!!!!" 

"It's right here miss, calm down" A thick male voice said beside me. I peeped open my eyes to see the hand wash in the hand a man. 

Oh no. 

Someone had been here with me. 

All along. 

God why! 

..................................

*Alex*

I stared at the lady who was acting like a mad woman as she peered her eyes open at me. She looked shocked. 

I had been drying my hands on the other side of the rest room when I heard someone burst into the room screaming. 

I turned around, surprised to see that It was a female. I was wondering what a female was doing in the men's room. Maybe she planned to Shag her secret lover? 

She appeared to be splashing water furiously on her face, I wondered if she was okay.

"It's worse! It's worse" I heard her say. My pulse quickened with concern for her. Something was wrong with her. I went to meet her, wanting to know what the problem was. 

And then she was screaming and crying, asking and searching for soap, looked like pepper caught in her eye or something. 

I looked at the hand wash that was tucked stylishly into a small shelf on top of the mirror. 

She was still screaming as I picked it and stretched it to her. 

"It's right here miss, calm down" I said. 

She froze immediately she heard my voice. 

Slowly and fearfully, she turned to me, and opened her eyes a bit. 

And my breath caught. My heart automatically stopped beating. And I was transfixed. Damn she was lovely. 

I froze, staring at her beautiful face, and her soft rose red lips. She had her lower lip between her teeth as she looked at me between almost closed eyelids. 

She was simply enchanting. Alluring. Adorable, all in one look. I gulped as I felt my pulse respond to this insane attraction I felt for her. 

"Uh.. Um.. Ca.. Can I have th.. The hand wash pl.. Please?" 

Until today, no woman had ever looked so adorable while stuttering and stammering. I couldn't mutter up any words as I handed over the hand wash to her.

I was unable to stop staring at her. 

And she was also staring at me. 

With half opened eyes. Damn. 

                 ................................